Akari

The shadows of the horrifying Mid Terms loom over us. For the past two weeks, we busied ourselves with a complete renovation of the children day care. There was only a meagre of time for us to cram furtively in our homes.

In the end, most of us drop out of the Top 50 in the grade. Maths slaughtered me completely. Even with all my efforts and Karma's good teaching hard work, I still failed.

"Err... Akari, it's already midnight. You need some good rest for tomorrow's exam," Karma said. He closed his Maths book and gathered the draft papers with numbers and equations scribbled all over.

I stared at my Maths textbook blankly, eyes sored from all the memorizing. Equations, formulas and even mere numbers were killing me from the inside. My brain shouted of exhaustion, threatening to shut down.

"But... but... "

Karma closed my book without my permission. I glared at him with all the ferocity I could muster, but instead my eyelids closed 3 seconds later. I shook my head violently.

Karma sighed. "I believe in you. You will pass tomorrow." He reached for my hands on my lap and squeezed them tight.

I pouted.

"I gave you a lot of practices and you crammed a long time. You'll be fine. Trust me, at least. Trust me that I believe in you."

Karma is going to slaughter me for sure.

I reach home, slumping to my sofa and bury my face in a pillow. My stomach growls but I'm to demotivated to move. If only Karma is here to cook for me...

"I wonder where he is... he ran off just now..."

The door of my apartment clicks open as Karma unlocks it with a key. This place is his second home now.

"Where have you been? I'm starving. Cook me something nice," I demand without lifting my head from the pillow.

"Hmm. Nothing really. My grades ended up helping me kick some ass," replies Karma. He puts his bag down and takes the apron hanging on a hook. With his deft hands, he ties the embarrassing pink apron on his waist. "What do you want to eat?"

"Whose ass?" Suddenly I remember Karma's perfect grades and got demotivated even more. "Just cook me fooood."

"Okay, love. Pasta will do."

Karma, despite having two weeks of no cramming to his disadvantage, he rose back up to the Top 2 in the whole grade. He would be a perfect, genius model student prodigy if not for his contradicting behaviour.

"Say, when are you going back to your house anyway?"

"Never thought of it. I can't believe you'd let me leave? I thought you love me. How sad," Karma says sarcastically.

I roll my eyes. "It's sort of inappropriate for a pair of unmarried, teenage, couple to stay with each other. We're only 15, remember?"

"Well then, let's get married next year. Everything will be legit by then." He ends his sentence with a snicker.

I sigh. No point reasoning with him. "I'm just saying... sheesh you exaggerate things."

"It's not exaggeration. It might be true."

I discover the growing heat in my cheeks. "This is not supposed to be a serious topic, you know, right?"

"For me, it's serious."

I'm left speechless as the blush on my cheeks almost exploded.

My body is pulled away from the comfort of my sofa. I look at Karma as he grips my hand tight.

And then he snickers.

I sink my face back into the pillow to cover my reddened face. "Don't look at me!" I fend off his hands trying to pull me back up.

"I like it when your face is red. Matches your nickname."

"S-shut up!"

Karma flips me over easily and exposes my vulnerable face. With a small smile, he kisses my nose. "I'll get the food ready."

******

Karma

As he returns to the kitchen area after teasing Akari, his heart skips a beat.

Damn, she's so cute.

He almost chuckled if not for his fast reflexes to cover his mouth.

I didn't know she could get any cuter.

The redhead hums happily while making the food for his princess.

*****

Karasuma-sensei has brought them new uniforms to substitute for the training uniforms that were torn and frayed. They are specially and custom crafted by the Minister of Defence for the purpose of the assassination. Boys are given uniforms with long sleeves and long pants. Girls' uniforms are less soldier-like, with short pants, a vest and black inners to cover their arms and legs. The uniforms are resistant against fire, stretch, cuts and impacts—all the results of highly advanced tech. Even the shoes enable its wearer to jump higher than ever.

Karma buttons up his uniform. It fits him perfectly like a tailor took his measurements and custom made it. He steps out of the bustling changing room still filled with his classmates and meets Akari by the hallway, who is jumping excitingly to test her boots.

Karma watches her for a few seconds silently. He enjoys watching her having fun like a kid.

So cute.

He covers his mouth to hide the chuckle that erupts from his mouth. But the sound draws Akari's attention. She loses her footing and tumbles forward but is saved by Karma. He holds her in his arms.

"Hi," he says.

Akari looks up at him with a flushed face. "Err... hi? You didn't perhaps...saw me...err--?"

"Jumping excitingly like a little girl? Maybe. Maybe not."

She sighs and removes herself from him. "You were just dreaming! Obviously."

He raises his eyebrow. "Uh-huh."

Akari flusters. "Err... oh look at the time! I'm late! Gotta go—"

Karma grabs her collar and drags her along with him to the opposite direction. "This way, idiot. The exit to the field is here."

She slaps his hand away. "Don't treat me like I'm some kid!" Hurriedly, Akari runs off and leaves him behind.

Karma remains at his position for a few seconds. His mind is occupied with, 'she's so cute'.

*****

"Plan of getting Bitch-sensei and Karasuma-sensei, phase 2, initiate!"

Karma didn't understand how he got tangled into this mess initiated by Nakamura and Kataoka. Probably because his girlfriend got too excited and he had to help her out.

He is walking through the streets with the same group of people at the Kyoto trip. They are assigned to get a gift for Karasuma-sensei to give to Bitch-sensei. Akari walks beside him, giving ideas along the way. The heated discussion even got the quiet Okuda to actively participate.

"What about chocolates?" Okuda proposes. "Chocolates seem perfect! Lovers give each other chocolates on Valentines, though now not's Valentine..."

"I think chocolates can work. It'll be a second Valentine Day for Bitch-sensei, as long as it's from Karasuma-sensei," Kanzaki agrees. "Don't you think so too, Sugino-kun?"

The baseball player got pumped up when Kanzaki mentioned him. "Of course!" He'd agree to anything Kanzaki says.

"I know! Pudding!" says Kayano instead.

"Pudding is your favourite. Not Bitch-sensei's," Nagisa rejects."

Dejected, the green-haired petite girl pouts.

Simultaneously, Karma glances at Akari who jots down the ideas attentively.

Ever since Akari's incident, he has been very protective over her. He is afraid she might end up in trouble if he looks away for a second. Of course, he is also wary of Kayano Kaede. She was the first person to discover Akari but he felt less grateful. Something about her story didn't add up but he doesn't know why. A tiny suspicion grows within his heart day by day, but he has no idea what is the cause of it.

His instincts tell him, stay away from her. Don't let Akari near her.

Even if he told Akari about his instincts, she wouldn't believe her if there was no proof.

Karma sighs silently as he adds another heavy load into the list of secrets he has hidden from Akari.

His list of secrets includes the maid dress set he has secretly bought, Akari's bento he has eaten, and also his thoughts about Nagisa and the truth of their relationship—

"Karma!"

Karma looks at Akari, then at the rest of his friends. Their puzzled looks warrant for explanation of his absent-mindedness.

"Flowers," he immediately blurts without thinking much. "I think flowers are good."

"Oh, okay, Karma-kun. I think flowers are good too," Nagisa adds as he supports the idea.

Karma glances at Akari. She jots down the word 'flowers' on her notebook, pouting disappointingly at the idea. He wants to ask her why but someone interrupted.

"Hey! You kids there!" It is the voice of a male florist who is moving flowers into his van. There are myriads of flowers—red, purple, yellow, blue...... the colours of a rainbow. Karma notices Akari's eyes are fixated to them.

"Oh! You're that florist!" Nagisa exclaims.

"How was that old man?" the florist asks. But Karma isn't paying attention to their casual conversation. He is more concerned of the brunette standing beside him, staring at the flowers.

Karma gently nudged Akari. "Hey. Everything alright?"

"Oh nothing..." Akari replies absentmindedly.

Karma glances at the flowers and at Akari. Both finally made a connection in his head.

He has never given Akari flowers.

Receiving flowers is also part of a girl's romance, huh?

Karma's deft hands snatches a red rose from its vase. Its petals are lusciously red, not his hair's burning red, but more to the red of wine. He places the rose on top of the notebook Akari is writing on. Her blue eyes widen with surprise, a gasp almost let out from her mouth. He puts a finger on her lips, shushing the girl. Then, he writes on her notebook with her pen; a smile slowly spreads across his face.

For you only, my love.

A lovely blush begins to blossom on Akari's face; a shade of red even prettier than the rose. He could kiss her now, if only they are not in public. She gently put her rose in her bag, and smiles one of the most beautiful smiles he has ever seen.

******

The plan to get Bitch-sensei and Karasuma-sensei failed, though. Thanks to Karasuma-sensei's dullness. Bitch-sensei was so pissed off at the students messing with her feelings that she was absent for the past few days.

Today is the third day, yet there is no sign of their English teacher.

Karma couldn't care much because he had no means of finding the woman. The class is already worried enough. He didn't want to say something nonsense or useless to worry them more. He leans against the wall, watching the class fidgeting.

"Anything, Ritsu?" Akari asks.

"Nothing, Akari-san," says Ritsu on the screen. "She went offline so I can't find her."

Yada adds in with concern over her face. "I can't connect through her phone either."

"She'll be alright. She's an experienced assassin, though a little immature sometimes..." Kataoka tries to reassure her classmates.

Karma scans around the class. Everyone wears the similar worried looks. His eyes stop at Akari, watching her silently. She is listening to her friends, occasionally nodding her head or joins in the discussion. She seems normal, till he realizes her face slightly contorts in pain as she holds her head. But she puts her hand down and puts on her usual smile to cover her pain.

That is the last straw.

Karma grabs Akari by her arm and pulls her out of the classroom, ignoring the staring looks from their classmates. He continues to drag her to the medical room, ignoring her pleas and closes the door.

"Ouch, Karma, what?" Akari glares at him.

"Is your head hurt?" He touches her head and caresses it. "I saw you. Don't lie."

Akari bites her lips and fidgets with her feet. "Umm... yes."

"Does it hurt bad?"

"Not really..."

His eyebrows crease together over his forehead. "I'll bring you to a doctor. Now."

"Karma—"

"Don't make me worry too much. Just listen to me, ok?" Karma starts to get flustered.

Akari's hands caress his arms to calm him down. "Hey... hey... it's just stress. I probably had not enough sleep, ok?"

"Akari." He looks directly into her eyes firmly. "If it happens again, you have to tell me, ok?"

She nods and weaves her fingers with his.

"Ok, love," she replies. "Let's go out there."

They return to the classroom. Their classmates glance at them, snickering while some of them smirking. But it only lasted for a few seconds as they return to their discussion on how to get Bitch-sensei back.

Karma sticks close to Akari, just in case.

He is still afraid. He almost lost her once. Twice, if you count the time she went up to the top of the building.

Just stress. Yeah. Just damn o' stress. She'll be fine. Calm down, Akabane Karma. Calm down.

To ensure that she stays healthy, he lists out a mental list of things he will do for her. 1. Healthy food. Organic, lots of veggie, cut less on fats. 2. Sleep early. If she doesn't want to, I'll tell her, her only option left is to sleep with me instead. 3. Drag her to exercise. Swimming. Jogging. Anything that can cut stress. 4. Make her happy. Funny movies, jokes, anything that makes her laugh. 5. Bring her to a full body check-up.

Also, Karma has to stay with Akari as long as it is needed to make sure she is safe and sound. He cannot bear to leave her alone at night, when she could be so vulnerable during her sleep, when she would have no one to help if she needs any.

Because Karma is too preoccupied by his love, he fails to notice the danger that has blended into the classroom. He would have been more alert to the so-called 'florist' standing before the class with a smile, appearing from nowhere like a ghost from the shadows.

The 'florist' unveiled a hidden dangerous aura, lethal as a poisonous snake. By instinct, Karma knows. He knows the man is beyond the whole class'—no, beyond his capabilities.

Karma pulls Akari behind him, trying to protect her, though he somehow knows how futile his effort would be.

"I... am the assassin who is called, the Reaper," says the man. "And I'm going to give you all a lesson."

*****

The uninvited visit of the florist has shaken everyone to their core. They are barely 15 years old, yet they are now tasked with the job of rescuing their teacher, Bitch-sensei. With no Korosensei or Karasuma-sensei to help them, they have to face probably their biggest enemy ever—the assassin, Death God.

Karma is afraid. The man is too dangerous. So dangerous that he could not defend himself and Akari from the man.

There is nothing he can do. He doesn't know how to fight, doesn't know when the man will attack him. And kill him.

This, is his worst fear.

Karma stares at Akari, who preps herself before entering the warehouse designated by the Reaper.

"Akari, let's leave," he mutters to her.

"What?" She gives him a look of disbelief. "We can't leave. Bitch-sensei's life depends on us. If one of us doesn't go, he'll kill her."

Karma sighs. He knows. He knows all that. "But I... I can't protect you." He pulls her into his arms and mutters into her hair. "I might not be able to protect you..."

"Karma, hey..." Akari weaves her hands through his hair. "I'll be fine, okay? Trust me."

"But... but..."

"Karma."

Her smile is so reassuring that it calms him down. She touches his cheek and looks into his eyes. "I'll be fine as long as we're together, okay?"

"Akar—"

"Akari-san! Karma-kun!" Nagisa calls from a few metres away. He squints his eyes to see them in the dark. "Let's go!"

"We're coming!" Akari replies. "Karma, let's go, okay?"

Karma sighs, surrendering after she flashes her reassuring smile once more. "Fine. You'll have to be by my side at all times."

She makes an OK sign with her fingers. "No problem!"

Everything's gonna be fine. She'll be fine. I can protect her. Karma repeats them in his mind like a chant.

*****

Something flows down her nostril. She thought it is just nervous sweat or mucus.

She wipes it with a piece of tissue. It stained red.

I must be heaty. Stress probably.

Akari shoves the crunched up tissue ball deep into her pocket, like a deep dark secret and hurried off to join her friends. She smiles at Karma, but the smile felt heavy.

Something is wrong. Her mind told her.

She knows. She knows damn well something feels wrong. But she doesn't know what.

Just... at least just let me finish this job and save Bitch-sensei before you fail me, body.

At least, don't fail me in front of Karma.

*****

They enter the warehouse warily, yet they are trapped by the Reaper. The entire floor descends into the underground like a huge elevator. One of the walls disappear into prison cell bars. On the other side of the bars is the Reaper, standing with his lethal smile. Of course, they are all prepared for a fight. With Takebayashi's bomb and Okuda's smokescreen, they managed to escape from the prison cell. According to the plan they set prior, the class separates into three groups. Group A will take the offensive side and stall the Reaper. Group B searches for Bitch-sensei. Group C will gather information to look for an exit.

Karma is part of Group A since he is the best fighter in the class. By knowledge and experience, he knows no matter how powerful his group is, they can never defeat the Reaper at this state. He never seen Reaper fight, but he just knew.

He glances at Akari beside him. Both of them serve as the flank for Group A. He is glad she is beside him so that he can look after her. Even though the other groups might be less hazardous, he just wanted Akari by his side so he can know how she fares.

She seems normal, looking alert. Maybe she's really fine.

"Crap!"

Karma hears someone cuss. He looks around and notices something weird in the air. A cold chill spreads down his spine. Goosebumps begin to emerge on his skin. The hairs on his arms stand as if something disturbed their peaceful rest.

He's coming. Death is coming.

Karma reaches out for Akari's hand and squeezes it. "If anything goes wrong, I tell you to run, you run."

Akari looks up at him, almost forming words to retort him. However, his firm stare silences her.

"He's coming!"

"Shit! Only one minute after separating with the others!"

"Everyone, battle stance!"

Karma tears his gaze away of Akari and looks up at the man whose looming presence brought chills in the air. This man just walks right at us. It's either he's an idiot or just have the confidence and the capability of defeating us.

Correction, killing us.

Crap, we don't stand a chance at all, do we?

Mimura and Yoshida, who went straight for him with tasers—before Karma could call them to stop—are now lying on the floor, tasting the painful blows to their heads. Everyone is too stunned to react. Isogai hasn't had a chance to call and order before the Reaper grabs Kimura by the collar and flings him away like a fly.

"After I became an assassin, the first training I got was face-to-face combat skills. Most assassins don't need these skills, but I do, if I need to become no.1," the Reaper preaches his ideology as he moves swiftly across the remaining space to get to Isogai and Maehara. His impeccable speed let him go through the tiny gap between the two boys, fooling everyone else, just to head to his actual target.

Kayano Kaede.

One blow on her abdomen makes Kayano scream and collapse to the ground.

"Kaede!" Akari screams with despair. Her voice drawn Reaper's attention, which is the last thing Karma wanted right now. He expected the girl to rush to her friend, but she stays on her ground, gritting her teeth and glaring angrily at the Reaper.

She's angry.

Oh god she's gonna do something stupid, again, is she?

Nagisa has already moving towards the Reaper, carrying out the plan that they had decided prior. Nagisa will give Reaper a blow with his infamous clapping skill. As the Reaper remains paralyzed, the rest of the people who are still standing will electrify him with high-power tasers.

There is a feeling in Karma's gut, telling him, warning him that they will fail. And die. Karma swallows down the bitter taste and steels himself.

Nagisa is almost there. Only a few more ste—

CLAP!

Someone clapped his hands. Not Nagisa.

But the Reaper.

It was such a loud clap. Louder than Nagisa's could ever achieve.

Karma can tell that Nagisa is completely paralyzed from that attack. And then, they are all goners.

Ah crap.

With speed undetected by human eyes, Karma felt—not saw— hard blows to his abdomen and his side. Then, he felt nothing from his body except the impact as he falls to the ground. His eyes blur and his mind is losing consciousness. But a word kept him awake.

Akari.

Heavy eyelids threaten to close as he strains his neck to get a clearer view of the hallway. Still bodies lying on the ground almost made him think that his friends are all dead. But if he is still alive now, it's unlikely that his friends aren't.

Akari.

There is no sign of her long brown hair sprawled over the floor. He begins to panic.

Where is she? Did she run?

"Please..."

He hears a pleading voice.

Karma finally finds her, standing a few feet from Reaper. She is the only one unharmed, yet she looks scared. Her legs are trembling. Sweat drips down her face. Her eyes dart from Reaper to Karma, back and forth, as if hoping her redhead prince could save her.

"Please just let us go! We're only students!" Akari shouts unrelentingly. She is not giving up without a fight.

Reaper said nothing when he moves towards her like an ominous shadow.

Run. Karma wants to tell her. But his energy is drained. His body is nothing but an empty shell caging his raging soul.

A blow to her abdomen. Karma hears her scream of pain.

No. No no no no NO!

But the girl will not give up without a fight. As the Reaper lands another blow to her side, she quickly grabs onto his arm and sinks her teeth into the flesh. The Reaper gives out a yelp. He sends another blow to her abdomen. The pain causes her to let go. She collapses to the ground but refuses to yield. She pulls out a knife with the intention of slashing his leg. But he dodges and kicks her to a wall. Her back and her head receive the biggest impact.

If only she would just quietly play dead.

Akari throws the knife she grips tightly in her palm at Reaper's head. He dodges the last minute but it grazes against his cheek. A trickle of blood comes out from the laceration. He lights up his lethal smile.

He's gonna kill her.

Akari's face is bloodied. Her hair is dishevelled. Her legs tremble as she tries to stand but she falls back to the ground instead.

"You're a persistent pest. I should let you live, but scarring you a little will be just fine as well. If you're dead, there would be less insurance," says the Reaper.

Akari doesn't say anything. Her fierce glare communicates instead. Bite me, bitch.

Karma musters the remaining energy in his arms and climbs toward them. Inch by inch. His muscles ache.

Hurry up you idiot!

He pushes himself to the limit. He forces his muscles to work even harder than ever. But no matter how strong his urge to protect her triumphs his pain, he realizes something on the way.

He couldn't reach her.

Reaper's huge palm grabs Akari's head. Through the gap of his fingers, Akari's glare still burns. Her fingers claw desperately at his skin, struggling to live. But nothing harmed the man.

Akari! Karma calls out for her.

She heard him. She must have. Akari looks at him and they finally see each other. Her gaze softens as she communicates one word to him.

Sorry.

Reaper smashes her head to the wall. Her desperate hands fall from Reaper's arm and lands on the ground, motionless.

The girl falls to the ground; eyes closed, body still, blood flowing.

*****

Author's note:

Dear all, I've returned from a long hiatus because my exam is finally over. I'm now having a long 2 months break. Expected to resume university life in Sept :D

I've bring back you OTP for this story: Akari and Karma!!! (Though the last ending was a little harsh...)

Thank you for all the love, the patience and the support! Long story short, next chapter will be up soon! Feel free to comment, review or ask any questions!! Give your love to the couple haha! Bye~~~